Electricity Eludes Ibanda Homes as High Connection Costs Keep Families in the Dark

Despite the national power grid passing through several communities in Ibanda District, many households remain without electricity—trapped in darkness by the high cost of connections.

This persistent lack of access continues to hamper livelihoods, with children in day-scholar schools particularly affected as they struggle to study at night.

A recent survey by Nile Post reveals that while wealthier families have managed to connect to the grid, poorer households remain dependent on paraffin lamps, locally known as obutadoba. These lamps emit toxic smoke that poses serious health risks, particularly for women and children.

In villages such as Ndoragi, Ntungamo, Kategure, Nyamirima, and Kayenje, residents say the cost of installation—estimated at over Shs2 million per household—is unaffordable.

“The government brought power near us, but raising money for an electric pole and wiring is very expensive,” said Leonard Kalamare, a resident of Ndoragi. “That is why most of us remain with paraffin lamps.”

Immaculate Nyakato, a mother of a Senior Four student, echoed the same concern.

“We can’t afford solar systems, and yet our children need light to study. We pray the government helps us connect electricity to our homes.”

Medical experts warn that the continued use of paraffin lamps poses severe health risks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), indoor air pollution from fuels like paraffin was responsible for 697,000 deaths in Africa in 2019 alone. A 2024 research report by Makerere University linked 7,200 deaths in Uganda between 2018 and 2021 directly to air pollution, with women and children being the most vulnerable.

In response to the crisis, the Speaker of Ibanda District, Godwin Muhumuza Oulanya, has launched a grassroots campaign to distribute small solar kits to the most vulnerable households.

“I lobbied for these mini-solar systems from partners to help families who cannot afford power or solar,” Oulanya told Nile Post.

“Each system comes with three bulbs. This is just a pilot in villages like Ndoragi, Kategure, and Nyamirima, but we plan to roll it out to more households.”

While acknowledging the effort is only a stopgap, Oulanya emphasized that broader government intervention is needed.

“The long-term solution is the national plan to extend power to every household. But in the meantime, these solar kits will help families protect their health and support children’s education.”

Uganda continues to grapple with one of the lowest rural electrification rates in the region. Government statistics from 2022/2023 show that only 36% to 42% of rural households had access to electricity, compared to much higher rates in urban areas.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) says efforts are underway through initiatives like the Rural Electrification Programme (RESP) and the Electricity Connection Policy (ECP), which aim to expand the grid and support off-grid solutions such as solar systems.

The government’s broader goal, aligned with Uganda Vision 2040, is to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030. As part of this, the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project (EASP) is being implemented to offer free last-mile connections, financing for home wiring, and solar home systems.

The Parish Development Model (PDM) also complements these efforts by investing in rural infrastructure to reduce inequality and improve service delivery.

For now, however, many families in Ibanda remain hopeful that both local initiatives and national programs will soon deliver reliable electricity to their homes.

“We are grateful for these solar bulbs,” said a resident of Kategure. “But what we really need is full electricity connection so our children can study without risking their health.”